Peaceful Resistance In America

More than 600 of these marches took place all over the world, the largest being at the nation’s capitol in Washington D.C.. Those who participated did so for a multitude of reasons. Marching for not just equal rights for women, but for equal rights for the LGTBQIA+ community, for Black Lives Matter, for raising awareness about climate change, and much, much more. The hashtag Why I March has garnered up millions of Instagram posts, Tweets, Facebook updates, and articles, all from men and women standing up for their beliefs. The coordinators of the Women’s March on Washington put together a document outlining their guidelines and principles, and illustrate modern day feminism very well. They go over the basic principles that human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights. It also demonstrates intersectionalism, calling for an end to police brutality, reformations for the criminal justice system, an end to human trafficking, rights for immigrants and refugees, among many others. Just as the first women’s convention in American history drew up a doctrine, the guiding vision and definition of principles of the Women’s March is eerily similar to the Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances written 169 years

Peaceful resistance to laws is one of the strongest and most important foundations of a free society. Countless peaceful demonstrations have been led in the history of the United States, with positive outcomes that have helped shape the country.

In light of the recent presidential election, many people fear for their freedom as restrictions on immigration, religion, and abortion rights have been proposed. As a result of this, on January 20th, countless citizens banded together across America in “Women’s Marches”, the largest of about 400,000 people at Washington, D.C. (10 Actions). At these protests, advocating for people of all genders, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, zero arrests were made. These peaceful gatherings gained the attention and unification of many people across the country and motivated citizens to continue to organize events. At the Women’s March on San Francisco, it was said by a speaker that we are “on the right side of history”. As people continue to vocalize their disagreements with the government, change will always be made, though it may be

Each act of disobedience directs attention towards a specific idea, and prompts the society to talk about it. It also gives licesnse for the liberated members of that society to form their own opinions about the idea. Since the protest harms no one, save the individual who is willing to face the consequences of breaking the law in question. It does not infringe on any other individual's rights. Peaceful resistance to laws has a positive impact on a free society since it educates that society's members and may lead to more liberty for them, which would create a freer

With over five million women, men and children united in all seven continents, the Women’s March was by far the largest and most peaceful protest in history. Washington, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Sydney and Paris are only a few out of the many cities world-wide that all groups of ages, genders, races and religions merged together on January 21st, 2017 to send a clear message to the brand-new government of the United States. Accumulating no arrest, the protesters conveyed that all rights are women’s rights, making the demonstration a successful act of civil disobedience. Although the Women’s March has yet to force the Congress to reform civil policy, the protest, along with all peaceful resistances, continue to positively impact free societies.

It provided a sense of unity and resolve that impacted women, men and children in multiple cities and taught people of all statuses to not be silenced during a time of oppression and international fear. After the President’s misogynistic comments terrorized women in the United States, the Women’s March on Washington was a “clap back” towards the office, defending angry women of every race. Unlike Donald Trump, 3.3 million people in multiple cities do not use violence and sexual harassment to condone good behavior. Our society, unlike the office, strives to create a safe, healthy, environment free of all forms of violence against our

On Saturday, January 21, 2017 history was made in the United States for having the biggest inaugural protest ever. There were an abundance of Women’s March all over the country but the one on Washington being the main one. However, with any big move of progress there is always two different opinions, one agreeing and the other one disagreeing; so one could look at this as a glass half full or empty situation, except that it is not. In addition, intellectual people know that the Women’s March was nowhere near being an act of civil disobedience but instead, a peaceful protest.

Many people will argue that peaceful resistance to laws and a need for change is unconstitutional, possibly because they believe that the constitution holds true and applies to this day and age. Truthfully, I don’t care what the constitution says and I do not think any of us should take it literally. It’s ambiguous and completely out of date. If the Constitution were applicable to any other time than when it was written, we would not need peaceful resistance. We would not have needed to “peacefully resist” things like segregation, slavery, or inequality. Because the laws of this country and many other countries have a tendency to be oppressive, unfair, and unfavorable towards minority groups, peaceful resistant is not only positively impactful,

Thomas Jefferson clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Exactly what Jefferson meant by Liberty in this statement was unclear and has been subject of great debate over the years. There is further examination of the use of the word Liberty in the U.S. Constitution. It was stated in Amendment I, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Therefore, by Constitutional law, it is legal to exercise ones right of peaceful civil disobedience. I believe peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. This is due to the fact that it exercises the rights we are given in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Two documents that run, support, and are the foundation or our nation.

A free society that limits or restricts the voice of its people fundamentally contradicts the exact meaning of free. The birth of America itself was knitted in the womb of violent disobedience of the law, and thus exists as a historically essential piece of who we are as Americans.

"Peaceful resistance" is a very controversial issue in this day in age. Many Americans, if asked, probably have many varying views and opinions on what peaceful resistance is. For some it could be marching down the streets with signs, while for others its shouting their rights without causing any violence. Now to me, peaceful resistance is when one or multiples stand for what they deem right or wrong without causing any harm to others. To me this serves as a positive because not only does it allow for people to be heard, but also for others to listen. When a peaceful protest takes place often enough it is shown through the internet, social media, television, news, etc. At some point everyone will hear about it and based on what they see they

The Constitution of the United States of America provides citizens with the right to freedom of speech, peaceable assembly, and to air grievances in the first amendment. However, refusal to abide by laws is breaking the law. Whether it is lawful or not, peaceful resistance positively impacts a free society. As a democratic republic, Americans elect representatives to essentially do their bidding in government, trusting their judgement and knowledge when making laws.

As a wannabe free society, it is our duty to resist unjust laws. Our Declaration of Independence states that citizens of this country have the right to revolt against our government if our government passes and enforces unjust laws. When people hear the word “revolution”, they immediately assume violence. However, there are ways to revolt without using force; this is often referred to as “peaceful resistance”. Some people believe that peaceful resistance is a disrespect to our government and an undermining of American “power”.

Peaceful resistance is a major part of American history, from the American Revolution to the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement to the Travel Ban protests of today. These instances of peaceful resistance shape American society for the better, as the voices of minorities are heard and unjust laws are ended. Peaceful resistance does positively impact a free society, as supported by Henry Thoreau, demonstrated by the 1960 Civil Rights Movement, and anticipated by protests of today.

On November 18, 1963 Abraham Lincoln addressed the city of Gettysburg and assured them “Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth”. The US government has been in place since 1789, but today it is far from the government it was. Every change from prohibition to the abolishment of slavery has seen some sort of resistance. Although it may seem as problematic and unnecessary, peaceful resistance is the key to the groundbreaking changes our constitution has endured since 1789 and has an extremely positive affect on our free society.